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J. A. TRAUT.

Spirit Level.

Patented Oct. 6, 1868.

WfiTnesses:

MPEYERS, PHDTO UTHOGRAPHEI1 WASHINGTON. D c.

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JUSTUS A. TRAUT, OF NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE STANLEYRULE AND LEVEL COM PANY.'OF SAME PLACE.

Letters'Patent No. 82,769, dated October 6, 1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN ADJUSTING SPIRIT-LEVELS.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, JUST'US A. TRAUT, of New Britain, co'unty oi"Hartford, and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Levels, for millwrights, carpenters, masons, 83 0.; andto enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, I willproceed to describe its construction, by referring to the drawings, inwhich the same letters indicate like parts in each of the figures.

The nature ofthis invention will be understood from the specificationand drawings.

The object desired to be attained thereby is to facilitate and cheapenthe manufacture of spirit-levels, and to render them less liable toget-broken or out of-or der, and at the same time convenient and easy tobe again put in order, when, from any cause, the vials become slightlydiverging from a true'horizontal or perpendicular position with thestock, and thereby rendering the whole instrument rich and tasty in itsappearance, more merchantable and desirable for useand trade.

In the accompanying drawingsv I Figure 1 is a side sectional view of alevel made after this improvement.

a is a spirit-vial placed in position in the stock, just one side-of thesight and counter-bore orifice, whichv serves, with the stock, 6, as aplumbing-instrument. I

a is a spirit-vial arranged in the edge of the stock 6, and servestherewith the purpose of a levellinginstrument. v

The peculiarity of this invention consists in providing the vial-tube cwith right-angle plate a, which may be made or east in one piece ofmetal, or in two parts, and secured firmly together. This tube a may besecured at one end of the plate 0'', or at'any point between its ends.But it is believed that the object of this improvement will be bestaccomplished by having the plate 0 and tube a cast whole, in one pieceof metal, or firmly united together in a right-angle position in thecentre of the plate a.

This plate may also he made square, oblong, straight side, with roundends; but it is believed that laborsaving and good taste will be bestsecured by the shape as shown atA.

Inpreparing the stock for the reception of this tube and plate, threedepressions are bored,.which produce the shape of the plate 0', as shownat A, thecentre one a little larger than the twoouter ones, (notnecessarily, but as a matter of taste,) and about twice the depth of thethickness of the plate a, (more or less, as

desirable,) so as to allow a yielding material to be introduced betweenthe plates and stock 6. The hole or orifice for the tubeis worked orbored out in the usual-way, a little larger than the tube itself. Thenthe tube a, elastic packing d, and plate 0, are-introduced into andsecured in the stock by means of one or more screws, e. Thus it will beseen that by turning one or the other "of'said screws e, the spirit-vialcan be'perfectly' adjusted in a. right-angle position with thestock, andthus produce a perfect plumbing-ins'trument.

' B is a metal case, (st-ruck up or cast in one piece of metal,) formeddishing, and provided with ample room in which to secure thespirit-vial, with plaster of Paris or other suitable material, in thecommon way of securing them directly in the Wood stock.

The sides of this'case are'cut or curved out in a proper manner, so asto allow of a clear view of the centre of the vial. At each end, andflush with the upper side-of this case, are provided plates ,9, having-hubs 72, through which screw-holes are madefiind countersunk from theupper side, to receive the head of the screws it, nearly or quiteflush-with the outer end of ,said hub.

The face'platez'is'provided with orifices to receive the'hubs It.

Figure-2 i-s amodification of fig. 1, in which the adjustable screw-headn is countersunk or fitted into and flush with the face of the plate Thescrew-end thereof is fitted into the nut or plate g, which is secured toor formed in the plate 9. In one case the spring or rubber pad is isplaced between. the caseB and the stock 6. The=object in each case is toelevate or depress one end or the other of the spirit-vial case withoutchanging or removing the plate 2'. i

for the purpose described.

The depression in the edge of the stock 17 is formed (by the use oftools in the common way) the proper shape to receive the body of thecase B. Each end of said depression is made the proper depth to receivethe springsor packing-pads 7c and plates g.

Now, when these vials are properly arranged in their cases, and areplaced in their depressions formed in the'stock, having the pads isbetween the plates 9 and the wood or stock I), or between the platesiand g, and the outer or face-plate 2', secured in its depression in theusual way, the screws n are then inserted, through the plate 2' and hubs7L and pads is, into the stock, and turned up closely, so as to securesaid case, with its vials, firmly in its proper position, or they areinserted through the plate 2', spring or packing .k, into the nut orplate g. Then, by turning one or the other of said screws, the vial isregulated to a perfectly level position.

Thus it will be seen, that by the use of this improvement greaterconfidence can be had in the accuracy of the instrument. Besides, theyam less liable to be broken by packing, transportation, storage, &c.,and reduced to a more perfect system of manufacture. Thus, if a vial isbroken, any person of ordinary ingenuity can readily replace andregulate the same for use.

I believe I have thus shown the nature, construction, and advantage ofthis improvement, so as to enable others skilled to make and use thesame therefrom.

1. I claim suspending the vial-case 0 within the stock 6, and adjustingthe same to its relative-position with the stock 6, by means of theplate a. screw or screws e, and springs-d, substantially as and for thepurpose described.

2. I claim the spirit-vial case B, constructed as described, with thesprings 70, screws it, operated through orifices in the plate 2',substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. I claim the combination of the adjusting-plate or nuts y, springs k,and screws n, substantially as and JUSTUS A. TRAUT. [L s.] Witnesses N.G. WILDER,

JEREMY W. Buss.

